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A nice idea, but totally impractical from a runner's perspective.

I got one of these as a Christmas gift a few years ago when I was just starting out running.

I won't beat around the bush, I think this product is a complete waste of time! I see people out running with these and I think, why?! I sweat a lot when I'm running, so I understand the importance of staying hydrated. Unless I'm out for runs in excess of 10K I don't need water, even in the height of summer. Carrying one of these things for a 20-minute jog around the block is totally pointless. Ok, they fit in the hand quite nicely, but to hold one while running for over 45 minutes just isn't practical.

What I do when I'm on a training run is leave a 500ml bottle of water outside my house. I plan my route in such a way that I go past my house at the point I know I will need water - which for me is about 6.5 miles. I realise this method won't suit everyone, but I'm sure you can find a way of getting some water on board without carrying one of these. If you are running in an event there will usually be water stations at appropriate places.

Sorry for the negativity, but carrying 300ml of water when running is not necessary! I suppose if you were out walking in the summer carrying one wouldn't be so bad, but for running it's a definite no-no for me. I'm scatching around to find any positives, so I think I'll leave it there!

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A good looking and great quality water bottle

I have had a fair few water bottles, I drink water all through the day so they are very useful for me. While I'm on the move it can be really annoying having to hold a water bottle in my hand, especially if it's a bulky one.

Karrimor is a popular brand that specialises in things like shoes and rucksacks designed for hiking and similar activities. I had never bought anything from them before but they seem like a company that really know what they're talking about. Their prices vary quite a bit and their products seem to be high quality.

This was really an impulse buy, I was browsing eBay and not really looking for anything in particular. This caught my eye because of the shape, it is oval shaped with a space in the middle which is moulded to fit your hand. There is text printed on the side saying 'karrimor' along with the Karrimor logo which is two letter Ks, one flipped the other way round so it looks like a union jack. I saw that this was available in pink with white cap and text, clear with yellow cap and black text, clear with pink text and pink cap and metallic blue with white cap and text. I went for the pink because it was the brightest colour and the nicest looking option to me. I would have liked to see this in more interesting colours instead of the standard colours and obligatory pink that all products seem to come in nowadays.

I paid £5.99 for this on eBay and later spotted a very similar generic version for £3.95 which holds 500mls, it could be very cheaply made and bad quality though and I didn't regret this purchase. When it arrived at my house, the first thing I noticed was that I really like this shade of pink. The bottle is quite compact and isn't bulky at all, it's streamlined and fits easily in my hand. The moulded non-slip grip is great because it means I can grip the bottle and it won't slip out of my hand.

My bottle holds 500mls and it's also available in 300mls. I went for the larger size because I drink quite a bit of water and need the extra capacity. I don't find my 500ml bottle to be bulky so the 300ml would definitely be light and compact enough. I love how I can easily hold this bottle while moving around, it doesn't interfere with my activities and I haven't dropped it yet. It's comfortable to hold and the fist position that I hold my hand in feels natural. I find that holding regular water bottles is uncomfortable after a while.

The cap is a sports cap, you can easily pull it up with your fingers (or teeth! I tend to use my teeth but probably shouldn't recommend it as it can leave teeth-marks in the plastic) I think the spout is pretty easy to drink from but it's spill proof which is good and bad. It's great that it doesn't spill but it does require a bit of effort to have a drink from this, especially when you're on the move and don't really want to slow down or stop. This doesn't bother me too much and I got used to it very quickly. The whole lid screws off for cleaning and refilling, it screws back on tightly and securely so there are no leaks.

I would definitely recommend this if the hand-held feature would be useful to you. It is a lot for me to spend on a water bottle but it seems to be good quality and well made. This has been extremely useful to me and I am glad I bought it.

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Mostly well designed drinking bottle for runners

The eternal quest to design the perfect water bottle for runners will no doubt continue for some time, until someone creates a sort of vaccuum where liquid doesn't slosh. Until then, I've learnt that you have to go with whatever is most comfortable for you. You can reuse standard small plastic bottles, or you can take this option, which is buying a branded bottle specifically designed for running.

This particular one comes with a respected brand name: Karrimor. Usually associated with camping, trekking and hiking, Karrimor are actually a well known sports equipment company as well, and this water bottle does show they know their stuff. It's a 300ml bottle, which holds just the right amount I feel for being able to carry water without feeling like it's excessively weighing you down. The shape of the bottle is designed to fit your hand, so instead of wrapping your fingers and thumb around a cylinder, you're faced with an oval bottle with a hole in the middle where you slot your hand into. One of the sides of trhe bottle has some grips on it so that your hand is not supposed to slip when carrying it.

So the theory works, what about using it then? Well, it starts off quite well, and the bottle seems to be designed to reduce the aforementioned sloshing around to as little as possible. Starting off with a full bottle is obviously going to reduce this somewhat as there's nowhere for it to slosh around to, but as you drink more, it naturally becomes more obvious. The problem with the bottle is not here though, as this part of it is not too bad. The problem comes with trying to take a drink. The lid is designed to be completely taken off for refilling purposes, and this is both easy to do and it screws back on tightly to stop any leaks. However, taking a drink when you're running requires a bit of extra concentration and distracts you from being in the running zone. A spout comes out that you're supposed to drink from, but it's not so simple as taking a swig from a bottle and you sort of have to get used to using it before you actually start running with it.

This is however, a minor point, if I'm honest. It's really just a different way of drinking out of a bottle, and once you're used to it then it's a whole lot easier than when you first start. I'd say it could easily put someone off bothering to use it, but ultimately if you persevere then you'll be fine. I have a number of different bottles at home, and this is probably one of the better ones. My son also plays a decent amount of sport and has his own variety of water bottles, and he really likes this one a lot. I guess it's something different other than the usual cylinder version, and when you consider you can get this for around the £2 or £3 mark depending on where you look, it's actually good value considering the brand and the design which aren't just standard. Worth a few pounds especially if you run quite a bit. Don't expect the 300ml to last you a long time though, as it's actually not that much. It's enough though when you consider the amount of runs I've done without any water at all. A little is better than nothing at all, this is worth a buy.

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A handy bottle for short distance runs

I'm becoming increasingly interested in health and fitness, and have developed a series of workouts and routines that I fit into my weekly schedule to keep my body in good shape and conditioned. The recent improvement in weather has inspired me to get outdoors and go running, and one essential item I needed was a water bottle that I could carry with me. I found this Karrimor Run Bottle in Sports Direct for just £1.99, with the RRP being a reasonable £2.99.

Product description: "The Karrimor Run Bottle is a handy running bottle to stay hydrated when on the move, thanks to a grip shape for a non slip grab. This water bottle will hold 300ml of liquid, and is finished off with the Karrimor logo on the side."

The main thing that attracted me to this particular bottle is the clever design. The bottle has an unusual oval shape to it, with a hole in the centre which is intended for your hand to go through. There is a ridged section on one side of the hole, which provides extra grip for you to hold onto with your fingers wrapped around it. This design is really practical as I can get a good tight hold on the bottle and it doesn't interfere with my exercise in any way. Because I can hold the bottle tightly in my hand it is secure and I have never dropped it, regardless of if I break into a sprint, or if I'm running over rugged ground and happen to step onto uneven patches of ground.

The main body of the bottle is a translucent white plastic, and it has a bright pink screw top lid with a pull-up drinking spout at the top. I remove the lid completely to fill the bottle with water, and it screws back on really tightly so there is no risk of leaks. The drinking spout is a little hard to use when on the move, and I normally slow down to a walking pace, or stop and rest for a minute when I want to take a drink. The spout is clever in as much as you pop it open, and then have to suck on the top of it to get the water to come out of the bottle. This makes it spill-proof, but it is also difficult to drink from especially if I've got out of breath and have to struggle between gulping in air and gulping down some water as well!

This Karrimor Run Bottle holds 300ml of liquid. In my experience I have found this is not really a great deal, and I will usually get through 300ml of water on a short distance run lasting for about 30 minutes. The bottle itself is lightweight and does not weigh me down even when it is filled with water. It is essential to keep hydrated when exercising, and I always make sure to drink some water before I leave the house as I'm warming up, and then again when I get home and cool down. The Run Bottle keeps me going through the actual period of exercise and is just the right amount for the short runs that I do. I think that anyone who is into longer distance running would either need to invest in two bottles and carry one in each hand, or go for something which holds a larger volume of liquid.

The odd shape of the bottle does pose a bit of a problem with cleaning as it's impossible to wipe out the inside with a dish cloth or sponge. That said, I only ever fill mine with water, so it does not need much cleaning and I just swish it out with soapy water when I'm washing the dishes, and make sure to clean the neck of the bottle and the lid thoroughly, as well as wiping around the outside to get rid of any bacteria from my sweaty hands!

Overall I think this is a great little bottle and it's a really handy piece of kit for anyone going out on short distance runs.

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A great running bottle!

You may wonder what the purpose of a water bottle designed just for running with, when any plastic bottle can be recycled to do the job. I thought this when my mum said she had purchased one to run with. I thought she had gone mad buying a bright pink bottle, to draw more attention to herself while out jogging. I mean its BRIGHT PINK!!!

However upon her recommendation I also purchased a Karrimor run bottle, and I hardly ever run without one now! The bottle is shaped to be held perfectly in your hand, without giving you cramp holding a large bottle. It is so comfortable that I barely notice it is there. Even with hot sweaty hands, this bottle is easy to hold onto.

The Karrimor run bottle is available in pink, white and It is dishwasher safe, and I have had mine a good year, and it is still in great condition. I use it for water as well as the occasional sports drink, and have never had a problem with it staining. The bottles are a flattened oval shape, with a hole in the center to hold them. The bottles are made of thick plastic, which has a visible join around the edges. It is strong and has survived being dropped many times.

The lid on mine is white, and is a pull up lid. It is simple to open using your teeth, so there is no fiddling around with a lid needed. When I am really thirsty, the flow of water is not fast enough for me, so I do end up taking the lid off though. The bottle does not spill easily, if knocked over when open.

After buying this bottle I began to love the colour, and have since purchased one more bottle, so have one in the small size which holds 300ml and 1 large one which holds 500ml for longer runs. I also now own a selection of fluorescent Karrimor clothes, and can be seen jogging in a bright pink top with black and yellow running tights! Reviews of which will follow.

The 300ml bottle is currently prices at £1.99 from Sports Direct and the 500ml bottle at £2.49. These are at a reduction from the RRP of £2.99 and £3.99 respectively. This is where me and my mum purchased our bottles, and I definitely recommend these bottles. I use mine for running and cycling (they slide perfectly onto my handlebars if I dont want to hold them, and one can easily be slipped onto each side) short distances, however for long distances one is not enough. At these times I either use a cabelbak type type rucksack or two of these bottles.

With regards to cleaning, I have never had any problems with drying the bottle, or it smelling. I wash it with the rest of the dishes, either by hand or in a dishwasher. Then leave upside down to dry, no different to any other container. It may take a little longer to dry than a regular shape, but within a few hours it is always dry and ready to use again. I store the bottle without the lid when in between uses, as a precaution to prevent it smelling.

I award 4/5 stars, as I do love these bottles, but the fact that the water doesnt always come out quick enough for me, does annoy me. Other than that, they are great bottles, and if you dont want the pink one, then the white one works the same, but without making you the talk of the town!!